The makers of the Resomation machine claim that it produces
a third less greenhouse gas than cremation, uses a seventh of the
energy and allows for safe disposal of dental amalgam.

Bowdler notes that mercury from amalgam – an alloy of
mercury with another metal used for dental fillings –
vaporised in crematoria is blamed for producing a portion of the
world's airborne mercury emissions.

The three-hour process, which involves heating
the remains at about 572 °F in a pressurized
vessel containing a non-acidic
solution, reduces the body to skeletal remains
which are processed into a white ash.

There are now two machines running – one in St.
Petersburg, Florida, and the other in Stillwater, Minnesota – and
eight more states have passed the necessary
legislation to permit the use of Resomation.

Resomation CEO Sandy
Sullivantold BBC that families have been
"very positive about the process,"
citing the daughter of a man whose body went through
the machine who was "absolutely delighted to be able to give
their father an exit which they were convinced he would have
absolutely loved, being very environmentally attuned."